Regional superintendents continue to play key role for Illinois' schools

This year marks an important anniversary for our nation — 150 years since the end of the Civil War and the tragic death of President Abraham Lincoln, who led the Union through that historic period.

Regional superintendents of schools also look to 1865 as the start of a long legacy of serving Illinois schools, a job that is as important today as it was in Lincoln's time.

The office of county school superintendent was created by the state legislature in 1865, establishing a four-year term, and every officeholder was required to visit each school in the county every year. From the outset, these offices have served as the administrative backbone for our public school system.

Over the decades, the makeup, roles and duties of the office changed dramatically. At the outset, county superintendents served as official advisers and assistants for school districts and as agents of the state superintendent of schools. We were there in the 1950s for the difficult decisions around the massive consolidation of school districts.

From the 1970s to the mid-1990s, the 102 county superintendents were reduced to 45 regional superintendents in charge of Regional Offices of Education around the state. In 2010, Cook County's regional office was reorganized into three Intermediate Service Centers that perform the same duties.

Today, the regional offices are going through more change. By July 1, there will be 35 instead of 44, yet our work demands will not decrease. We will do more with less, and we will provide school districts with the high-quality service they have come to expect through our commitment to three tenets — safety, support and success.

We keep schoolchildren safe by training and testing bus drivers and inspecting school buildings. We support educators through top-notch professional development and by ensuring that schools are meeting state and federal guidelines. We help students succeed through our high school equivalency degree and regional safe school programs.

We are doing this while taking the lead in reducing costs and promoting a shared service model for school districts.

The challenges facing Illinois education are tremendous. While regional school superintendents appreciate Gov. Rauner's plans to provide more state aid to schools, he has proposed cutting several programs that are vital to the success of students and their schools. The Regional Safe School Program that we oversee is a great example.

The program was created nearly 20 years ago to provide a safety net of alternative education for students removed from classes for disruptive behavior. More than 4,000 students in Illinois at approximately 80 program sites each year get another chance to earn an education in a supportive, individualized learning environment.

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So many students use their new opportunity to improve behavior, attend class regularly, complete their coursework and either return to their home school to graduate or receive their GED here. The counseling and life-skills training they receive through the Safe School Program turn around their lives for the better.

Where will these students go without a safe-school alternative? What will administrators and teachers do when behavior problems disrupt classes and create dangerous situations? We need to work with the governor and legislators this spring to keep the program in place so all students can succeed.

As we join with other school administration organizations to support the Vision 20/20 push for a brighter future for Illinois schools, regional school superintendents are an important part of solving the problems that must be addressed now. At age 150, we are energized and prepared for the work ahead.

Pat Dal Santo is president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools and is the Kane County regional school superintendent.